Pak 'n Save single-use plastic bag 'memorabilia' passes $20 bid on Trade Me

Saturday, 5 January 2019

A Pak 'n Save single-use plastic bag has surpassed the $20 mark in a Trade Me auction following its discontinuation in stores.

The bag, described as 'more endangered and at risk than many native species', was listed following Foodstuffs' decision to discontinue single-use plastic bags at the checkout from January 1.

Up until this year, Pak 'n Save's single-use plastic bags had cost 10c for North Island customers and 5c for South Island customers.

As of 3pm on Saturday, the auction sat at $21.11, with bidding due to close on Tuesday night.

**READ MORE:

* Pak 'n Save single-use plastic bag listed on Trade Me as 'memorabilia'

* Everything you need to know about NZ's plastic bag ban

* Single-use plastic bags no longer in New Zealand supermarkets

* We're banning bags, but what about all the other single-use plastic?**

It had been viewed 18,628 times and had been added to 605 people's watchlist.

The savvy Nelson-based seller said the auction was 'a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of New Zealand history' and 'a rare chance for you to snatch up a piece of immaculate memorabilia'.

They noted that it was a reluctant sale due to 'receiving an upgraded version of the same item'.

The auction's photos included the front and back side of the bag, and a close up of its barcode to 'verify the authenticity of the item'.

It had interested a number of people, with 17 questions responded to and a further 37 still to be answered.

One interested person asked if they would be breaking the 'single-use' rule if they were to use the bag more than once.

The seller said they could do so at their own risk.

Trade Me spokesperson Millie Silvester said the site loved to see current events being 'moulded into' an auction.

'We see our members jump on big trends like this all the time - they're awesome at creating a tongue-in-cheek listing that captures what's going on in New Zealand.'